Unitary traverse rod

ABSTRACT

A traverse rod and drapery system for movably supporting a pleated drapery and wherein at least the leading end of the drapery is movable longitudinally of the traverse rod between open and closed positions. An elongated, unitary, moldable plastics, T-shaped traverse rod is provided having a stem section and a cross bar section integrally connected. The stem section has an elongated slot therein in the end remote from the cross bar section extending lengthwise of the traverse rod. A plurality of openings are molded through the cross bar section and the stem section of the traverse rod to permit the reception of fastening elements therethrough for the purpose of securing the traverse rod to a supporting surface. A plurality of drapery carriers are provided and have means thereon adapted to engage the traverse rod and permit movement therealong.

United States Patent Ford [541 UNITARY TRAVERSE ROD [72] Inventor: James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich. [73] Assignee: Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich.

[22] Filed: March 22, 1971 [21]- Appl. No.: 126,487

[52] US. Cl. ...160/330, l6/87.2, 16/96 [51] Int.Cl. ..A47h 1/02 [58] Field of Search ..160/330, 344, 345, 346, 123, 160/124, 126; 16/87, 87.2, 87.4, 87.6, 87.8,

94 R, 94 r), 93 R, 93 r), 96 R, 96 1) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,331,095 7/1967 116611161 16/96 D 3,516,113 6/1970 116611161 ..16/94 D 3,522,621 8/1970 Ford et a1 ..16/87.4 R 3,530,528 9/1970 Hachtel l6/87.4 R

FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1,202,053 8/ 1970 Great Britain l6/87.2

1451 Aug. 8, 1972 Primary ExantinerDavid J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn 57] ABSTRACT A traverse rod and drapery system for movably supporting a pleated drapery and wherein at least the leading end of the drapery is movable longitudinally of the traverse rod between open and closed positions. An elongated, unitary, moldable plastics, T-shaped traverse rod is provided having a stem section and a cross bar section integrally connected. The stem section has an elongated slot therein in the end remote from the cross bar section extending lengthwise of the traverse rod. A plurality of openings are molded through the cross bar section and the stem section of the traverse rod to permit the reception of fastening elements therethrough for the purpose of securing the traverse rod to a supporting surface. A plurality of drapery carriers are provided and have means thereon adapted to engage the traverse rod and permit movement therealong.

s Clains 8 Drawing Figures UNITARY TRAVERSE ROD FIELD OF THE INVENTION closed positions and, more particularly, relates to a traverse rod which is of a unitized construction and made of a moldable plastics material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Known traverse rods have been constructed from sheet metal components and are well known. These are, however, relatively expensive to manufacture for several reasons which are also well known, and including particularly the time required to assemble the many components. Other known traverse rods are made of an extruded aluminum material and the aluminum itself is expensive. Further, where the traverse rod is of a metal construction, either rolled or extruded, it is oftentimes difficult to provide a curved configuration for the traverse rod when, for example, the drapery material is to cover a curved window.

It has also been known to provide plastics tracks by extrusion methods and these successfully make available to the product some of the advantages of plastics materials. However, the use of extrusions, whether the material is of metal or plastics, does not provide for shapes other than uniform cross-sections. Hence, in the past such irregularities as fastening holes were provided by drilling and this is an extra operation and therefore an extra expense.

Accordingly, the objects of this invention are:

1. To provide a traverse rod having a unitary molded plastics constructions;

2. To provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, wherein the traverse rod may be easily installed to a supporting surface without the use of auxiliary brackets;

3. To further provide a traverse. rod, as aforesaid,

which is easy to manufacture using commonly known FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line Vl-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the traverse rod.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only and will not be limiting. The words front" and rear will designate the particular orientation of the traverse rod, the rear side of the traverse rod being illustrated in FIG. 8. The words in and out" will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects and purposes of the invention have been met by providing a unitized, moldable and flexible T-shaped plastics traverse rod having a stem section and a cross bar section integrally connected. The stem section includes means defining an elongated slot in the end remote from the cross bar section which extends lengthwise of the traverse rod. A plurality of first rib means integrally secured to the traverse rod extend transversely of the slot means to separate the slot means into a plurality of separated slot segments and to strengthen the rod. Openings are molded into and through the first rib means in the stem section and the cross bar section to permit a reception of fastening elements therethrough for the purpose of securing the traverse rod to a supporting surface. A plurality of drapery carriers are provided and have means thereon adapted to engage the traverse rod and permit movement therealong.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a traverse rod 10 secured to a supporting surface 11 and plastics construction and has a stem section 14 and a which is simple to install and requires a minimum of so time and tools by the installer;

7. To further provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, which is sufficiently inexpensive to manufacture and install to make it available for mobile home use.

8. To further provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, which is made of plastics material to facilitate its use in boats or other high humidity environments without the risk of corrosion.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with traverse rods of cross bar section 16 extending generally perpendicular to each other. The opposite ends 17 and 18 of the cross bar section 16 extend laterally outwardly away from the lateral side walls of the stem section 14 to define a T-shape.

A plurality of slots 19 are provided in the rear surface 20 of the stern section 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. The slots 19 are separated by one of a pair of rib constructions 21 or 22 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8. The rib construction 21 is integrally secured to the internal walls of the slot 19 and serves to strengthen the traverse rod. The rib construction 22 is slightly thicker than the ribs 21 to permit an opening 23 to extend therethrough, which opening also extends through the cross bar section 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, said opening being provided therein at the time of molding the part. The end of the opening 23 in the cross bar section 16 is countersunk as at 24. The countersunk opening 24 is of a sufficient size to receive a fastening element, here a screw 26, so that the head 27 thereof is at least flush with and preferably positioned slightly below the front surface 28 of the traverse rod 10. The rib construction 22 also serves to further strengthen the traverse rod 10.

One longitudinal end of the traverse rod is provided with a notch 31 (FIGS. 2 and 3) in the front surface 28 which has a pair of upstanding sidewalls 32 and 33 and a bottom wall 34 which is sloped toward the rear surface of the traverse rod. An opening 36 is provided in the bottom wall 34 and has a sufiicient size to receive a fastening element, here a screw 26. 4

.The adjacent end of the adjacent section of the rod 10 is provided with a projection 37 (FIG. 2) which has as a pair of upstanding sidewalls 38 and 39, a front surface 41 and a bottom wall 42 which is sloped in a manner to cooperate with the sloped wall 34 of the notch 31. The sidewalls 38 and 39 are spaced a distance equal to or slightly less than the spacing between the upstanding sidewalls 32 and 33 of the notch 31 to permit an insertion of the projection 37 into the notch 31. The bottom wall 42 of the projection 37 is spaced from the front surface 41 a sufficient distance so that the front surface 41 of the projection is flush with the front surface 28 of the next adjacent traverse rod section. An opening 43 is provided in the projection 37 which is axially aligned with the opening 36 when the projection is received in the notch 31. The front end of the opening 41 is countersunk as at 44.

A moldable plastics C-shaped drapery carrier member 46 (FIGS 2 and 7) comprises a base portion 47 and a pair of arms 48 and 49 integrally secured thereto. Each of the arms 48 and 49 are provided with an elon- The rear surface 20 of a traverse rod section 10 is placed against the supporting surface 11 in a desired loreceive a screw 26 which serves the purpose of both gated slot SI-and 52 respectively, therein which are of 3 5 such width and spacing as to snugly but slideably embrace the cross bar section 16. Each slot 51 and 52 extends parallel to the traverse rod and opens outwardly at the opposite longitudinal ends of the carrier member 46. The base portion 47 is generally thinner than the arms 48 and 49 and permits a flexing of the arms 48 and 49 toward and away from each other. It is recognized, of course, that the arms 48 and 49 could be ,made thinner than the base portion 47 so that the arms holding the traverse rod sections 10 and 10A together and securing the combination to the supporting surface 11.

A desired number of drapery carriers 46 may then be secured to the drapery material 12 and snapped onto the traverse rod sections as described hereinabove.

The use of the slots 19 and the cross-walls 21 and 22 provide a light but strong unit requiring a minimum of 1 material, the molding of the screw openings 23, 36 and 43 save the time which would otherwise be required to drill same, and the reentrant tongue and groove end assembly with screw openings therethrough provides a positive locking of the ends of the sections so that the carriers 46 can slide smoothly from one rod section to the next. The rod sections are tion molding.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the advantageously made by injecinvention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as folleading end of said drapery is movable longitudinally of would flex and not the base portion. The free ends of the arms 48 and 49 are inwardly inclined as at 53 and 54, respectively, so that the drapery carrier 46 can be pushed against and over the cross bar section 16. The inclined free ends 53 and 54 will cause a flexing of the base portion 47 to pennit the arms 48 and 49 to move away from each other so that the drapery carrier 46 can be snapped onto the traverse rod 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 7.

An opening 56 (FIG. 7) is provided in the base portion 47 of the drapery carrier 46 and is adapted to receive a fastening element 57 secured in any convenient manner to the drapery material 12. In this particular embodiment, the fastening element 57 comprises a moldable plastic snap member 58 having an annular rim 59 therearound receiveable in the opening 56. The snap member is secured to a flexible tape 61 which in turn is sewn to the drapery material 12.

OPERATION The installation of the traverse rod embodying the in vention has been indicated somewhat above, but will be described in detail hereinbelow for convenience.

said traverse rod between open and closed positions, comprising:

an elongated, unitary, moldable plastic, traverse rod having a stem section and a cross bar section integrally connected to said stem section at one end thereof thereby defining a T-shape, said stem section including means defining an elongated slot in the end thereof remote from said cross bar section and extending lengthwise of said traverse rod;

at least one rib means integrally secured to said traverse rod and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot means into a plurality of separated slot segments and to strengthen said rod;

means defining an opening through said cross bar section and said rib means of said traverse rod to permit a reception of a fastening element therethrough to secure said traverse rod to a supporting surface.

2. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including a plurality of second rib means integrally secured to said traverse rod and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot segments into a plurality of additional separated slot segments and to further strengthen said rod.

3. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including coupling means on theends of said traverse rod to permit an end-to-end coupling together of a plurality of traverse rod sections.

4. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprises a pair of cooperating wedge elements, one wedge element being integrally formed on the respective ends of a pair of traverse rods.

5. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 4, including means defining an opening through said pair of said wedge elements to fixedly secure said pair of traverse rods together and to secure said respective ends of said traverse rods to said supporting surface.

6. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including drapery carrier means having a base portion and a pair of spaced arms defining a generally C-shape, said pair of spaced arms being adapted to slideably engage the opposite ends of said cross bar section, said base portion including fastening means thereon for cooperating with fastening means attached to said drapery.

7. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 6, including a countersunk recess in said cross bar section surrounding said opening so that the end of said fastening elements will be recessed to prevent an interferrence with said sliding motion of said drapery carrier means.

8. A traverse rod construction, comprising: an elongated unitary, moldable plastic track having a pair of elongated rail means extending laterally outwardly thereof to thereby define a T-shape, said'track means including means defining an elongated slot in the surface thereof remote from said elongated rail means and extends lengthwise of said traverse rod; I a plurality of first rib means integrally secured to said track means and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot means into a plurality of separated slot segments and to strengthen said rod; at least one second rib means integrally secured to said track means extending transversely of said slot means, said second rib means including means defining an opening through said track means to permit a reception of fastening elements therethrough for the purpose of securing said track means to a supporting surface.

l l t 

1. A traverse rod and drapery system for movably supporting a pleated drapery and wherein at least the leading end of said drapery is movable longitudinally of said traverse rod between open and closed positions, comprising: an elongated, unitary, moldable plastic, traverse rod having a stem section and a cross bar section integrally connected to said stem section at one end thereof thereby defining a Tshape, said stem section including means defining an elongated slot in the end thereof remote from said cross bar section and extending lengthwise of said traverse rod; at least one rib means integrally secured to said traverse rod and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot means into a plurality of separated slot segments and to strengthen said rod; means defining an opening through said cross bar section and said rib means of said traverse rod to permit a reception of a fastening element therethrough to secure said traverse rod to a supporting surface.
 2. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including a plurality of second rib means integrally secured to said traverse rod and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot segments into a plurality of additional separated slot segments and to further strengthen said rod.
 3. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including coupling means on the ends of said traverse rod to permit an end-to-end coupling together of a plurality of traverse rod sections.
 4. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprises a pair of cooperating wedge elements, one wedge element being integrally formed on the respective ends of a pair of traverse rods.
 5. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 4, including means defining an opening through said pair of said wedge elements to fixedly secure said pair of traverse rods together and to secure said respective ends of said traverse rods to said supporting surface.
 6. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 1, including drapery carrier means having a base portion and a pair of spaced arms defining a generally C-shape, said pair of spaced arms being adapted to slideably engage the opposite ends of said cross bar section, said base portion including fastening means thereon for cooperating with fastening means attached to said drapery.
 7. A traverse rod and drapery system according to claim 6, including a countersunk recess in said cross bar section surrounding said opening so that the end of said fastening elements will be recessed to prevent an interferrence with said sliding motion of said drapery carrier means.
 8. A traverse rod construction, comprising: an elongated unitary, moldable plastic track having a pair of elongated rail means extending laterally outwardly thereof to thereby define a T-shape, said track means including means defining an elongated slot in the surface thereof remote from said elongated rail means and extends lengthwise of said traverse rod; A plurality of first rib means integrally secured to said track means and extending transversely of said slot means to separate said slot means into a plurality of separated slot segments and to strengthen said rod; at least one second rib means integrally secured to said track means extending transversely of said slot means, said second rib means including means defining an opening through said track means to permit a reception of fastening elements therethrough for the purpose of securing said track means to a supporting surface. 